Criminal Justice

Bachelor's and Associate Degrees

In a Criminal Justice career, you do more than just solve the case. You make a difference, each and every day. At Central Penn College, our Criminal Justice Administration bachelor’s degree and Criminal Justice associate degree prepare our graduates with a comprehensive understanding of the legal, practical and theoretical aspects of the criminal justice system, as well as specialty subject matter relative to unique career ambitions.

Criminal Justice students will receive hands-on learning in College facilities including trial experience, investigation of a crime scene and managing of a simulated investigation. Students will learn how to develop, organize, and manage various projects concentrating on crime prevention, asset protection, investigative concepts and crisis management.

Students’ communication skills will be developed through presentations and writing projects, with their analytical ability tested through hands-on evaluation methods. Studying a Criminal Justice degree at Central Penn College is an interactive experience, taking you beyond the standard classroom lecture, and immersing you in the field.

Want to learn more about studying Criminal Justice or Criminal Justice Administration at Central Penn? Use our 'Request Information' box to the right — you'll hear from us soon! To hear what others have to say, we encourage you to like us on Facebook, or connect with us on Twitter. We love to answer questions and provide additional information in a format that works for you.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please click here to visit our 'Disclosures' page.

In addition to Central Penn's standard admissions requirements, a personal and professional background investigation is a required component of virtually all federal, state, and local agencies offering internships or employment to graduates of the Criminal Justice Administration degree program.

Only those persons who are capable of passing a governmental background investigation and would otherwise be eligible for a governmental security clearance should consider enrolling in a Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Administration or Homeland Security Management degree program.

Individuals who enter these degree programs with a disqualifying personal or professional history or for those who engage in a disqualifying activity while attending Central Penn may be precluded from obtaining an internship or employment in the career field after graduation.

As a career-oriented college and in addition to our hands-on curriculum, Central Penn requires all students to complete an internship. This opportunity allows students to participate and experience their future careers in the real world. Internships are 180 hours in length and include a research project tailored to the individual's career path.

Continuing education and online students may complete a capstone course in place of the traditional internship. This can be done at both the associate and bachelor’s degree levels. This course requires an extensive research project and paper related to the student’s chosen career path.

Central Penn College is a career-oriented, baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate, residential college in Summerdale, a suburb of Harrisburg, with an offsite location in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Central Penn College offers associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs for both traditional and continuing education students by providing hands-on and online distance education taught by experienced, caring faculty.